2004 Mitsubishi Lancer

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag systems.During the course of PE14-016, ODI determined that five additional vehicle manufacturers used inflators of a similar design and vintage also supplied by Takata. No evidence of field failures was found in vehicles produced by these five additional manufacturers.Nonetheless, at ODI's insistence, all 10 vehicle manufacturers initiated a regional recall within approximately two weeks of the opening of the investigation.The regions recalled initially included Florida, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, areas with high absolute humidity and climatic conditions believed to be a significant factor in the inflator ruptures.As part of the recall actions, inflators removed from remedied vehicles are to be returned to Takata for testing.Takata's initial test results on passenger inflators from remedied vehicles indicated a much higher than anticipated rupture frequency for inflators returned from Florida.Accordingly ODI requested all 10 manufacturers expand the regional recalls for passenger inflators to include other geographic areas where high absolute humidity conditions exist, including the Gulf States and other coastal areas.Takata's testing of the passenger inflators to date continues to indicate this geographic area as having the highest risk, with no ruptures occurring from inflators returned from outside the expanded recall regions.During PE14-016 four additional passenger inflator field events occurred, all in vehicles from the same expanded geographic region.Also during PE14-016 four additional driver inflator field events occurred including two in vehicles from regions not known for high absolute humidity, specifically California and North Carolina.Accordingly, ODI requested all five of the affected vehicle manufacturers currently using the subject Takata driver inflators expand to nationwide recalls.Significantly, neither of the affected vehicle manufacturers or Takata provided any explanation to account for these two driver air bag inflator ruptures outside the area of high absolute humidity.Takata testing of returned driver inflators indicates a lower rupture frequency as compared to passenger inflator testing.All test ruptures reported by Takata to date have occurred on inflators returned from high absolute humidity areas.The investigation now includes all manufacturers and vehicles known to be affected at this time.ODI's investigation will focus on, among other things, root cause analysis, other potential defect consequences, identification of affected vehicles scope, and adequacy of the remedy.The five ODI reports cited above can be reviewed online at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification numbers: 10537899, 10568848, 10585224, 10605877, 10651492

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag systems.During the course of PE14-016, ODI determined that five additional vehicle manufacturers used inflators of a similar design and vintage also supplied by Takata. No evidence of field failures was found in vehicles produced by these five additional manufacturers.Nonetheless, at ODI's insistence, all 10 vehicle manufacturers initiated a regional recall within approximately two weeks of the opening of the investigation.The regions recalled initially included Florida, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, areas with consistently high absolute humidity and climatic conditions believed to be a significant factor in the inflator ruptures.As part of the recall actions, inflators removed from remedied vehicles are to be returned to Takata for testing.Takata's initial test results on passenger inflators from remedied vehicles indicated a much higher than anticipated rupture frequency for inflators returned from Florida.Accordingly, ODI requested all 10 manufacturers expand the regional recalls for passenger inflators to include other geographic areas where high absolute humidity conditions exist, including the Gulf States and other coastal areas.Takata's testing of the passenger inflators to date continues to indicate this geographic area as having the highest risk, with no ruptures occurring from inflators returned from outside the expanded recall regions.During PE14-016, four additional passenger inflator field events occurred, all in vehicles from the same expanded geographic region.Also during PE14-016, four additional driver inflator field events occurred including two in vehicles from regions not known for high absolute humidity, specifically California and North Carolina.Accordingly, ODI requested all five of the affected vehicle manufacturers currently using the subject Takata driver inflators expand to nationwide recalls.Significantly, neither of the affected vehicle manufacturers or Takata provided any explanation to account for these two driver air bag inflator ruptures outside the area of high absolute humidity.Takata testing of returned driver inflators indicates a lower rupture frequency as compared to passenger inflator testing.All test ruptures reported by Takata to date have occurred on inflators returned from high absolute humidity areas.The PE is now closed/upgraded to an Engineering Evaluation (EA15-001) to include all manufacturersand vehicles known to be affected at this time.ODI's EA investigation will focus on, among other things, root cause analysis, other potential defect consequences, identification of affected vehicles scope, and adequacy of the remedy.The recalls related to this PE are: 14V343, 14V344, 14V348, 14V351, 14V353, 14V655, 14V700, 14V701, 14V752, 14V763, 14V770, 14V773, 14V787, 14V802 and 14V817.The number of vehicles affected are an estimate since some vehicles may have both the driver and passenger side inflators recalled. The five ODI reports cited above can be reviewed online at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification numbers: 10537899, 10568848, 10585224, 10605877, 10651492

TAKATA RECALL. HAD ORIGINAL AIRBAG REPLACED 2 YRS AGO. RECEIVED A LETTER FROM MITSUBISHI STATING I NEEDED TO HAVE IT DONE AGAIN. I CALLED CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR MITSUBISHI WHEN I LEARNED THEY NO LONGER HAVE A MITSUBISHI DEALERSHIP LOCALLY. I WAS ADVISED AT THAT TIME THAT THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP , IN EITHER DIRECTION, WAS 4-5 HOURS FROM WHERE I LIVE. I WAS ADVISED THAT I NEEDED TO CALL ALL THE MECHANICS IN THE AREA TO FIND ONE THAT IS CERTIFIED BY MITSUBISHI! IF I COULD FIND ONE AND THEY WERE MITSUBISHI CERTIFIED, THE WORK WOULD BE DONE AND MITSUBISHI WOULD PAY FOR IT. HOWEVER, THEY NEED TO HAVE CURRENT CERTIFICATION. I HAVE CALLED A FEW DEALERSHIPS IN THE AREA, BUT NO ONE HAS A CERTIFICATION FOR MITSUBISHI. I DIDN'T INSTALL THE BAD AIRBAGS. I WOULD HAVE TO TRAVEL TO EITHER OF THESE DEALERSHIPS, SPEND THE NIGHT IN A MOTEL, WAIT FOR THE APPOINTMENT AND WORK TO BE DONE, AND DRIVE HOME. THIS IS RIDICULOUS! IN THE MEANTIME, I HAVE RECEIVED A SECOND LETTER FROM MITSUBISHI STATING THAT I SHOULDN'T ALLOW ANYONE TO RIDE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OF THE CAR UNTIL IT'S REPAIRED. I DON'T KNOW IF THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG IS ANY GOOD EITHER. I WOULD APPRECIATE ALL THE HELP YOU CAN GIVE ME. I FEEL LIKE MY CAR AT THE PRESENT TIME IS USELESS. I'M IN FEAR OF DRIVING EVEN TO THE GROCERY STORE.

NHTSA ID

11183694

Incident

Jan 22, 2019

2004 MITSUBISHI LANCER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED HE IS TOO VISUALLY IMPAIRED TO DRIVE THE LONG DISTANCE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED; THEREFORE, ACCEPTING ALL RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CONSEQUENCES. *JS

NHTSA ID

11120329

Incident

Aug 20, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PULLING TO ONE SIDE AND THE TIRES WERE WORN DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT TIRE FACILITY WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CROSS MEMBER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V458000 (SUSPENSION). NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,000.

NHTSA ID

11114123

Incident

Jul 20, 2018

Mileage

148,000 mi

I WAS GOING TO REPLACE THE FRONT CONTROL ARMS ON MY OWN BUT NOW I AM ONLY GOING TO BE ABLE TO REPLACE THE FRONT PASSENGER CONTROL ARM BECAUSE THE DRIVER SIDE CONTROL ARM IS CORRODED AND THE BOLT DOES NOT COME OUT. I WAS GOING TO BUY THE CROSSMEMBER MYSELF BUT THAN A FAMILY MEMBER SHOWED ME A LINK THAT SAYS THIS CROSSMEMBER ON MY MODEL COULD BE A RECALL. BEFORE I REALIZED HOW CORRODED IT WAS I TOOK IT TO A DEALERSHIP DUE TO A RECALL ON THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND THE DEALERSHIP REPLACE IT AND THEY SPRAYED SOME ANTI-CORROSION ON THE CROSSMEMBER BUT FORGOT TO MENTION THE HOLE THE CROSSMEMBER HAD. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AT HOME

NHTSA ID

11112984

Incident

Jul 1, 2018

Mileage

154,398 mi

2004 MITSUBISHI LANCER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT PROVIDE A CONVENIENT OPTION TO HAVE THE RECALL REPAIR COMPLETED.*JS

NHTSA ID

11111611

Incident

Apr 1, 2018

TAKATA RECALL MY LOCAL MITSUBISHI DEALER, CUTTER MITSUBISHI (HTTPS://WWW.CUTTERMITSUBISHI.COM) HAS REFUSED TO FIX THE RECALL. I HAVE TELEPHONED MORE THAN FIVE TIMES, LEAVING DETAILED MESSAGES, INCLUDING BOTH THE AIR BAG RECALL AND NOT INCLUDING THE AIR BAG RECALL. THEY HAVE NEVER RESPONDED TO ONE TELEPHONE CALL, AND THEY NEVER ANSWER THE PHONE. I HAVE GONE TO THEIR WEBSITE AND LEFT A DOZEN REQUESTS FOR SERVICE NOTING I NEED THE AIR BAG RECALL FIXED, AND THEY HAVE NEVER, NOT ONCE, REPLIED TO ANY REQUESTS. THEY SHOULD BE FORCED TO FIX MY AIRBAG BEFORE IT KILLS ME AND THEY SHOULD BE PUNISHED WITH A SIGNIFICANT MONETARY PENALTY FOR ENDANGERING MY LIFE AND EVERYONE ELSE'S LIFE WHO CAN'T GET IT FIXED.

NHTSA ID

11110816

Incident

May 15, 2018

Mileage

85,000 mi

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V569000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MITSUBISHI DEALER WAS OVER 100 MILES AWAY AND A RECALL REPAIR APPOINTMENT COULD NOT BE SCHEDULED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY COULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE IF THE LOCAL REPAIR SHOP HAD THE TOOLS TO COMPLETE THE REMEDY. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

11091563

Incident

Sep 17, 2017

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SRS INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE HORN DID NOT WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BIG TWO MITSUBISHI (6222 AUTO PARK DR., MESA, AZ 85206, (480) 218-2000) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WOULD NEED TO BE PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED DUE TO THE COST. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V220000 (AIR BAGS) AND BELIEVED THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT PROVIDED. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

11091341

Incident

May 2, 2015

This Technical Information Notice informs dealers that with permission from the Puerto Rico Traffic Safety Commission, notification letters are being sent to vehicle owners with Puerto Rico addresses to inform them of open Takata recalls.

This Technical Information Notice informs dealers that with permission from the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), notification letters are being sent to vehicle owners with Texas addresses to inform them of open Takata recalls.

This Technical Information Notice informs dealers that with permission from the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicle, notification letters are being sent to vehicle owners with Ohio addresses to inform them of open Takata recalls.

This Technical Information Notice informs dealers that with permission from the Louisiana Motor Vehicle Division, notification letters are being sent to vehicle owners with Louisiana addresses to inform them of open Takata recalls.

This is a Technical Information Notice informing dealers that MMNA is launching a social media campaign targeting vehicle owners with open Takata recalls.

This Technical Information Notice informs dealers that with permission from the Arizona Motor Vehicle Division, notification letters are being sent to vehicle owners with Arizona addresses to inform them of open Takata recalls.